SCRIMSHAW: IS IT REAL? - Part 3
by ROD CARDOZA, August 2012 (Updated August 2014)
On one occasion, when asked to authenticate a piece of scrimshaw brought to him, the late Paul Madden of Sandwich, Massachusetts, long time dealer and recognized scrimshaw authority remarked, "I don't know, I wasn't there when it was made."
This tongue in cheek disclaimer speaks volumes to the novice searching for the "Rosetta Stone" of authentication. To date, no sure test has been devised that can prove unequivocally the age and source of a piece of scrimshaw.
When a piece unique scrimshaw was handed to a panel of "experts" at one of the first Kendall Whaling Museum Scrimshaw Symposiums, there were as many opinions about the piece as there were panelists! Since the first Symposium in 1989 several more of these "world class" forums were held at the Kendall in Sharon, Massachusetts until its collection was merged with that of the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Since then the Symposium tradition has been carried on and now occurs on an annual basis in late Spring at the NBWM. (For details visit http://www.whalingmuseum.org).
"Show and Tell" sessions at these Symposiums invariably spark heated debate when collectors, dealers, and recognized experts unfailingly render mixed opinions about the authenticity of certain piece of scrimshaw that they have jointly examined for the first time.
In fact this "uncertainty" about scrimshaw has led some long time collectors, aficionados, and at least one former museum curator, to "swear off" collecting scrimshaw altogether!
Fortunately though, these are the extreme cases, and all is not bleak for the novice. There are still basic truths which all experts rely upon in fashioning their evaluations. Subsequent to the World's First Scrimshaw Symposium we submitted a Letter to the Editor of "Maine Antique Digest" in which we outlined "9 facts about antique scrimshaw." Our outline was later used as the basis for a Scrimshaw Symposium presentation by the late Desmond Liddey, recognized Australian collector, scrimshaw expert, and forensic scientist.
The letter, to "MAD's" editor, Sam Pennington, read like this:
San Diego, California 21 March 1989Mr. Samuel PENNINGTON
Editor MAINE ANTIQUE DIGEST
P.O. Box 645
Waldoboro, ME 04572
Dear Sam,
It was a pleasure meeting you recently during the Kendall Whaling Museum's scrimshaw symposium. Certainly we were all impressed by the body of knowledge represented and presented.
When it was over I was equally in awe of how much still remains to be explored within this field, and how much of it is subject to interpretation.
The symposium participants consistently trumpeted the axiom that there is no substitute for handling and examining bulk quantities of period antique scrimshaw in order to obtain a bona fide "feel" for what's real and what isn't. Yet all admitted fallibility in judgment -- even the most seasoned of recognized "experts."
My whispered proposal to promulgate a basic set of authentication guidelines was met, in most cases, with negativity. "It's impossible." "There are no short cuts." "It's a gut feeling." Apparently, the theory goes, you have to gain knowledge the old fashioned way... you earn it! How true! There's no substitute for experience.
Yet I maintain that there ARE some basic bench marks by which the serious student of period scrimshaw, indeed even the novice, can gauge his perceptivity in evaluating a generic piece of scrimshaw. One of the conclusions propounded by the symposium was the value of research, methodology, and knowledge as tools in unlocking the mysteries of scrimshaw.
Here then is a portion of the methodology that we here at WEST SEA COMPANY use in our evaluations of scrimshawed whales' teeth:
1. Cut and size. Whalemen were not as enamored with the size and mass of whale's teeth like collectors today. More often than not a tooth was trimmed or squared off at the bottom by sawing, frequently so that it would stand upright on its own. As size of teeth increased there was less proclivity on the part of a whaleman to scrim them. Today the largest old teeth encountered are usually blank.
A very unusual form of authentic scrimshaw, consisting of a whale tooth carved in relief depicting an identified ship and its home port. Only 4 inches tall, this tooth was originally much longer. Its carver cut off a substantial portion of the bottom so that it would stand upright. Alexander Starbuck in his comprehensive reference work "History of the American Whale Fishery" indicates a single voyage of the Whaling Schooner AMELIA hailing from New Bedford. It was in the year 1877, precisely dating this work. 2. Patina. A true age patina on a tooth is generally irregular, conforming to the striations of the grain and the difference in the density of the dentin and pulp. The patina generally varies from side to side and from the inner root canal to the exterior surface. Patina is the result of the environment in which the object was maintained. For example, a tooth kept in a household of smokers might exhibit a rich dark brown patina. Whereas two of the famous "Susan's teeth" stored in the protected environment of the Peabody museum since 1831 are starkly white. It is also documented that some shipboard scrimshanders did purposely patinate their work by soaking in a brine solution enhanced with pigment. Conversely, many contemporarily scrimshawed teeth are given an artificial "patina." Soaking a tooth in tea is one popular method. But contrary to a real age patina, the color tends to be consistent on the entire surface. Given the above observations, patina can be said to be a good indicator of age, but obviously does not guarantee it.
A spectacular example of scrimshaw done at the hands of one familiar with engraving. Perhaps the scrimshander of this bull whale's tooth was an artist/sculptor turned sailor. The work is extremely fine and reminiscent of that found on stock certificates and bank notes of the era. Yet, attesting to its whaleman origins, note that in the scene on the left, another vessel is depicted in front of the ship, hull down, over the horizon. This phenomenon is unique to the experience of a sailor! Also note the irregularity of the beautiful old patina on this specimen. Artificially aged and patinated teeth, such as those soaked in tea, will exhibit a more uniform color overall. 3. Surface. Period whale tooth scrimshaw was usually prepared by whittling down the surface with a jackknife (See Flayderman, Scrimshaw & Scrimshanders, Whales & Whalemen, p. 44) or carpenter's tool, further smoothed with an abrasive such as shark skin, then finally polished by hand. The process left the surface smooth but with slight irregularities. Many contemporarily prepared teeth are done with mechanical means such as a grinder and buffer, producing a high sheen. But because the process is labor intensive, frequently only one side has been smoothed. Nearly all antique teeth were smoothed all over.
4. Work. a. A good percentage of early scrimshaw was done on board ship with fresh, soft, raw material. As such early work can be heavy with distinctive "furrowing" or raised areas immediately adjacent to the engraving. New (and old) work done on hard, cured material will not exhibit this characteristic. In fact most modern work, done on old teeth, will exhibit minute fracturing and chips along the lines of engraving.
b. Usually the technical aspects of a sailor-scrimshawed scene are correct with regard to rigging, boats, anatomy, topography, voyage facts, etc.5. Cracks. Most ivory cracks and checks with age. A piece of scrimshaw done prior to the onset of age cracks will not exhibit pigment within the crack, unless re-inked. Conversely, a dead giveaway that an old tooth has been re-inked or contemporarily scrimshawed is the presence of pigment in age cracks.
Note the age crack running through the scene on this old example of a
scrimshawed whale's tooth. No pigment has migrated into the crack, but
it does contain "good dirt".6. Inking and coloration. Early scrimshanders worked with limited resources, and therein lies much of the modern fascination with their beautiful results. Pigments were limited to that which was on hand: lampblack, ink, iron oxide, organic substances, and sometimes paint. The use of color ("polychroming") was relatively infrequent, but when present, was muted. When color was used, red and shades thereof, was the most popular.
Three views of an exceptional late 19th century scrimshawed whale's tooth which exhibits lovely, darkly inked engraving
referred to as "intaglio." Note the subtle use of red polychroming. Again, note the uneven distribution of patina.7. Wear. Subtle timeworn aging is difficult to fake. The pigment used to "ink" old work is often times literally "worn-out." Look for rounded or worn surfaces characterized by small scratches, themselves worn.
8. Data. Signed, dated, and identified period scrimshaw is RARE. Therefore, when evaluating an example with these attributes remember, "Guilty until proven innocent."
One of the finest examples of scrimshaw ever produced -- that of the "Ship John Coggeshall of Newport" done by Albro (Thomas and/or Caleb) during one of three whaling voyages to the Pacific whaling grounds from 1835-1847. Identified scrimshaw is rare, and this superb example has all of the "bells and whistles!" Note the subtle use of red "polychroming." If scrimshawed whale's teeth are most valued by collectors, then this example would rate as an "ultimate find," easily commanding well into 5 figures.
Chronometer rating sheet of "Demilt's Astronomical Observatory, New York" bearing a
scene with an uncanny similarity to that on Albro's scrimshawed tooth. The rating
sheet is dated 1841, right around the time that the Albro brothers were a whaling.
Thomas Albro served as steward aboard the whaleship John Coggeshall during its
1835-1839 voyage to the Pacific. This meant that his work station was in the officers'
quarters, placing him in daily proximity to the ship's chronometer. While Albro
certainly took artistic liberty in depicting his version of the "Longitude," there can be
no doubt that Demilt's engraving was his inspiration. This again lends credence to
the observation that whalemen were good copy artists, but generally lacked much
originality.
For further reading on the topic see:
1. Walter Earle, "Scrimshaw Folk Art of the Whalers," 1957, Whaling Museum Society, Inc., Cold Spring Harbor, NY.
2. Norman E. Flayderman, "Scrimshaw and Scrimshanders, Whales and Whalemen," 1972, N. Flayderman & Co., Inc., New Milford, CT.
3. Stuart M. Frank, Ph.D., "Fakeshaw: A Checklist of Plastic Scrimshaw," 1993, The Kendall Whaling Museum, Sharon, MA.
4. Michael McManus, "A Treasury of American Scrimshaw, A collection of the Useful and Decorative," 1997. Penguin Books, NY.
Related Articles:
- SCRIMSHAW: IS IT REAL? (Part 1) - by ROD CARDOZA on SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 (updated Jan 2013)
- SCRIMSHAW: IS IT REAL? (Part 2) - by ROD CARDOZA on SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 (updated Jan 2013)
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